Summertime is here. Not a grill master? That’s OK! We prefer
the kitchen, too! Baking is a fun activity you can enjoy year-round. Ever
wondered why your favorite baked snack never comes out quite right during the summer
months, though? It’s because whipping up your favorite sweet treats when the
heat and humidity are in full force requires a few adjustments.
Bake at night
When baking during the spring, winter and fall, you may not
notice how much your oven heats up your home. But come July and August, it’s hard
to miss. If possible, do your baking in the evening. It will allow your baked
goods to cool quickly when you pull them out of the oven and keep you from
breaking a sweat in a hot kitchen. Cakes, especially, can become dry if they
are too hot for too long.
Shade over sunlight
(say no to the fridge!)
When you are finished with your masterpiece, you want to
show it off! Pay close attention to where you leave it, though. If serving your
dish outdoors, shade is better than sunlight when it comes to baked goods.
Keeping these sweet treats cool and fresh will also keep guests’ fingers from
becoming sticky from melted icing or candy pieces. We even recommend putting a small
fan next the table to keep it from being affected by the heat.
I’m sure you’re wondering why you can’t simply put your sweets
in the fridge. Avoid this at all costs as the fridge can cause your goodies to
dry out and become stale quickly.
Butter! Butter!
Butter!
At Frost, our frosting recipe is always butter-based.
However when it comes to cooking at home, there are two ways to ensure your frosting
stands the test of time. First, cool your baked goods completely before you
apply the sugary goodness to the top. Second, use a shortening-based frosting instead
of butter. This will result in a more stable frosting that is likely to hold up
better in a warm environment.
Butter temperature
We’ve all done it. We set the butter on the counter to allow
it to get to room temperature, and the next thing we know, it’s liquid.
Monitoring your butter temperature is very important, especially when making
cookie dough. If it’s too soft or melted, the dough will be less dense than
what your recipe normally produces. If necessary, chill your dough before
spooning it onto your baking sheet.
We hope these tips help you through the summer baking months! Have any
tips of your own? Share in the comments below.